2003 grant

Foundation for European Forest Research

Forestry activities of international organizations in relation to the

needs and expectations of Central and Eastern European countries

Miroslav Gecovičresearch scientist

Department of Forest Policy, Economics and ManagementForest Research Institute

Zvolen, Slovakiavisiting researcher at EFI 21 October – 19 December 2003

Why this topic?

being a citizen of one of the countries in transition (CITs) allows better understanding of country’s position at the international forestry scene:

• strengths• weaknesses• opportunities• threatspersonal experience gained in the field of international

cooperation in several positions:• head of Institute’s foreign relations department• responsibility for organizing of events• plenty of important and useful contacts• membership in international bodies• chairmanship of Joint FAO/ECE Working Party

Aims of the project

• to explore existing involvement and analyze differences between countries in transition (groups of countries) in selected international forestry activities

• to provide springboard for further future activities helping to overcome differences

• to contribute to strengthening of EFI’s and other international organisations’ position among CITs through a deeper knowledge of strong and weak points

Methodology overview

• what data? (countries, activities)• where from? (sources of data)• where to store? (data storage)• data processing• data evaluation (main findings)• presentation of results and their availability• utilization of results (outcomes, intensions,

recommendations)

Which countries?

European countries in transition (2004 EU members):• Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland,

Slovakia, SloveniaNew Independent States countries:• Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan,

Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

Other European countries in transition:• Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia,

Romania, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro

In addition:• EU and EFTA countries, some other countries in Europe and

outside Europe, international organisations (if applicable)

Data about what?

main groups of activities:• H3 database and H3 related activities• COST Forests and Forest Products actions• Fifth Framework Programme (FP5) forestry

related projects• Sixth Framework programme (FP6) forestry

related expressions of interest and seeking partners

• selected FAO/ECE forestry related activities• selected EFI activities

Data collection: data sourcesECE/FAO activities:• ECE and FAO internet pages (www.unece.org/trade/timber,

www.fao.org/forestry)• available lists of participantsEFI activities:• Internet (www.efi.fi)• available EFI documentsH3 activities:• Geneva Timber and Forest Discussion Papers ECE/TIM/DP/28COST actions:• CORDIS database (cost.cordis.lu/src/signatories.cfm)FP5 projects:• CORDIS database (dbs.cordis.lu/fep/fp5/fp5_proji_search.html)FP6 expressions of interest:• CORDIS database (eoi.cordis.lu/search_form.cfm)

Data storage

Excel table:• rows

– activities (groups of activities)• columns

– countries (groups of countries)• cells

– level of participation (No. of participants, organizations)• comments

– more precise information (names of participants, list of organizations)

• links– additional documents (detailed description of the action)

Data processing

Excel sheets:

• summaries for groups of activities

• subtotals and totals

• emphasised in colour

Main findingsdifferences are notable between these groups (table):• EU and EFTA countries• 2004 EU members• 2007 EU candidates• Western Balkan CITs• most of NIS countries (with exception of Russia)responsibility in representation:• in some CITs at different activities responsibility lays on limited

number of representativesprojects involvement:• differs between groups of CITs, however notable in comparison to

EU and EFTAcooperation in projects:• regional level• national consortia

Results: presentation and availability

presentation:• Foundation Board• EFI staff• some of EFI publications• different meetingsavailability:• database and supplementary files• PowerPoint presentation• grafical expression (map)

Outcomes and intensions

to help CITs through participation in possible projects:

• Sixth Framework programme

• propose COST action

• INCO project (for non-EU members)

• possibly other activities

Recommendations

• stimulate and CITs to participate actively in preparation of international projects (FP6, COST) and become ready to take responsibility for project coordination

• encourage CITs to become more involved in publication activities at international level (EFI publications)

• to reach active involvement of participants from CITs into discussions at different international meetings

• to overcome the gap between politicians and high level decision makers on one side and those responsible for fulfilling the tasks and bringing them into everyday life

Thank you for your attention

:-)